Shoe-straining device.



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Patented May l3, I902. H. MICHELSTADTER & H. CHRISTIAN.

SHOE STBAINING DEVICE.

(Application filed Dec. 14, 1901.)

THE NORRIS PEYEES CO. PHOTOLLITHO. WASHINGTONA D. Q

(No Model.)

Waiter-rem UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH MIOHELSTADTER AND HANS CHRISTIAN, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA- HUNGARY.

SHOE-STRAINING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,065, dated May 13, 1902.

Application filed December 14,1901. Serial No. 85,895. (No model.)

tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to shoe-straining devices, and among theobjects in view is to provide a device of this character adapted for ready adjustment both longitudinallyand laterally, whereby to accommodate it to shoes of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to providea device of the character described,which will be of comparatively simple construction and which is adapted to be folded into compact form when not in use.

The invention consists in the noveLcons'truction, arrangement, and combination of parts,1 as hereinafter fully described, illus-' trated in the drawings, and'pointed out in the appended claims. I

In the drawings, Figurel'is a" central longitudinal sectional view of the' device in position for use. Fig. 2 is an under side view, partly in section.

Fig. 4: is a detail view of the slide o, showing the same in side view. Fig. 4. shows an end view of the slide 0. tal section of said slide. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the part a, showing the same in side view. Fig. 5 is an end1view of the part at. Fig. 5 is a plan view of said part.

Our improved device comprises a front or toe portion and a rear'or heel portion,;preferabl'y having a jointediconnection, whereby to adapt said portions to be foldcd,-as seen in Fig. 3. The toe portionmay be of one rigid piece; but we preferably construct it of two pieces 0 0, having a yielding connection, whereby to adapt said portions to have a lateral movement relatively to each other, whereby the toe portion of the device may Fig. 3 is a sectional view; p y n, levation, showing the device folded.

Fig. 4? shows a horizon-- be readily inserted within shoes of varying widths. The yielding connection between the portions 0 c is formed by springs 12 b, the ends of which engage with pins 17, secured to the portions 0 c. ["Pins 6 are provided, en-

gagedbythe. coiled portions of the springs .to maintain the rod acentrally'upon the bolt and inproper position'irelatively to the portionsc.

. It will be seen that when-the toe-piece is inserted within a shoe the portions 0 thereof will be compressed to adapt said toe-piece to enter the shoe, and after the device has been fully inserted the springs 19 will serve to force the portions 0 laterally, to thereby maintain the upper of the shoe in a taut or strained condition.

The heel portion '5 of the device is shaped somewhat to correspond with the rear portion or counter of a shoe, and this heel portion preferably has a jointed connection with the toe portion through the medium of the rod a, said connection beingsuch'as to permit the "tdeand heel portions to be adj usted toward and from each other, whereby to adapt the device to shoesof different lengths. The

'heel portion 1) is recessed, as at j, and at the upper portion is provided with an aperture through which loosely passes a screw-rod m. The latter works within a threaded portion or nut 3, formed upon a slide 0, which is substantially U-shaped when'viewed'in plan, as seen in Fig. 4. The parallel sides of the slide 0 are provided withth'e' opposite verti cal slots 1" and with opposite diagonal slots 19. it indicates a U-shaped metallic piece ar ranged within the recess j of the heel-piece and having flanges which are screwed to the said heelpiece, as seen plainly in Fig. 2. Said piece n is provided with alincd horizontal slots 25.

it indicates a pin upon which the rear end of the rod a is pivotally mounted, said pin passing through the inclined slots 9 of the guide 0 and the slots 25 of the piece at. The slide 0 is guided in its vertical movements by means of a pin g, which extends through the vertical slots r and is secured at its ends to the piece at.

It will be seen that by turning the screwrod m in one direction the slide 0 will be raised, and by reason of the fact that the pivotal pin or bolt u passes through the inclined slots 1) the said pin will be caused to be forced forwardly within the horizontal slots t of the piece 02, thus causing the toe-piece of the device to be adjusted forwardly through the medium of the rod a, whereby the toepiece of the straining device will be caused to be pushed forwardly within the shoe as far as possible. To permit of the easy withdrawal of the device from within a shoe, the screw-rod is rotated in reverse direction, whereby the slide 0 will be lowered, thus causing the pivotal pin it to ride rearward within the slots 15, thus causing the toe-piece of the device to be drawn rearwardly through the medium of the rod a, after which the straining device may be readily removed.

It will be noted that by the described construction of the device the longitudinal adjustment of the toe and heel pieces is readily effected, and by reason of the yielding connection between the sections a of the toepiece a yielding tension will be exerted upon the front portion of a shoe when the device is in operative position within the latter.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination With toe and heel pieces,- said toe-piece comprising oppositely-arranged sections, of springs 1) arranged between the said sections, pins 11, e, secured to the sections of the toe-piece and being engaged by the springs, as described, whereby to yieldingly connect the sections of the toe-piece and permit them to be laterally moved relatively to each other and at the same time prevent complete separation of said sections and a jointed connection between the toe and heel pieces.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a toe-piece comprising oppositely arranged sections and springs yieldingly connecting the sections of the toepiece to adapt them forlateral movement relatively to each other, of a bolt carried by and extending transversely of the toe-sections, a rod pivotally mounted at one end on said bolt, springs on the bolt upon opposite sides of the rod, and a heel-section to which the other end of the rod is movably connected, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with toe and heel pieces and a rod a pivotally connected at one end with the toe-piece, of a vertically-movable slide carried by the heel-piece and provided with inclined slots, a fixed guide-piece carried by the heel-piece and provided with horizontal slots, and a pin upon which the other end of the rod a is mounted and passing through the slots in the slide and guide-piece, and means for operating the slide.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with toe and heel pieces, said toe-piece comprising oppositely-arranged sections having ayielding connection to adapt said sections for lateral movement relatively to each other, of pieces (I carried by the sections of the toe-piece and provided with eyes, a pin or bolt seated within the eyes, a rod mounted at one end upon the said pin or bolt, and springs mounted upon the bolt at each side of the red, the said rod having a pivotal and slidable connection with the heel-piece, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention We have signed our names in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HEINRICH MICHELSTJIDTER. HANS CHRISTIAN.

WVitnesses:

WILHELM ZERGER, ALvEsTo S. I'IOGUE. 

